Zombie Culture
1. Noun
a. the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose.
b. the supernatural force itself.
2. Informal.
a. a person whose behavior or responses are wooden, listless, or seemingly rote; automaton.
b. an eccentric or peculiar person.
3. a snake god worshiped in West Indian and Brazilian religious practices of African origin.
4. a tall drink made typically with several kinds of rum, citrus juice, and often apricot liqueur.
5. Canadian Slang. an army conscript assigned to home defense during World War II.
Every time I see an advertisement for a zombie movie, game, or tv show, I think someone is making fun of us.
A zombie employs the ultimate defense mechanism. You can't kill me, I'm already dead. I guess because I had a profound experience with this at my breaking point a few years ago, it just seems painfully obvious. No matter how much we gobble up brains, devouring and taking ownership of intellect, it will never satisfy our souls. We have to completely undie. By this I mean, live fully alive, in order to feed the soul. No matter what we try to substitute for soul food; intellect, financial success, fame, beauty, or otherwise, nothing replaces the defenseless, courageous soul feast of being wholeheartedly* alive. I think the mystics have dealt with this before, showing us how to move from our heads to our hearts, from known to unknowing.
a. the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose.
b. the supernatural force itself.
2. Informal.
a. a person whose behavior or responses are wooden, listless, or seemingly rote; automaton.
b. an eccentric or peculiar person.
3. a snake god worshiped in West Indian and Brazilian religious practices of African origin.
4. a tall drink made typically with several kinds of rum, citrus juice, and often apricot liqueur.
5. Canadian Slang. an army conscript assigned to home defense during World War II.
A zombie employs the ultimate defense mechanism. You can't kill me, I'm already dead. I guess because I had a profound experience with this at my breaking point a few years ago, it just seems painfully obvious. No matter how much we gobble up brains, devouring and taking ownership of intellect, it will never satisfy our souls. We have to completely undie. By this I mean, live fully alive, in order to feed the soul. No matter what we try to substitute for soul food; intellect, financial success, fame, beauty, or otherwise, nothing replaces the defenseless, courageous soul feast of being wholeheartedly* alive. I think the mystics have dealt with this before, showing us how to move from our heads to our hearts, from known to unknowing.
* I like the term and body of work by Brene Brown that describes what this alternative to zombie life is. Much gratitude to her for bringing the wisdom of being fully alive in our time.
Wishing you and I the courage to fight the good fight on behalf of the longing of our collective soul.